Staff in the NHS are claiming millions in compensation for minor injuries

Published on 05/03/2012

A leading newspaper has revealed that NHS staff are claiming nearly £20 million a year in compensation for minor injuries, money which is paid for by the taxpayer.

Figures obtained through Freedom of Information requests show that over the past 5 years, the NHS has paid out over £90 million to compensate 9,042 employees for accidents they said was the fault of the NHS.

NHS staff are claiming nearly £20m a year in compensation

The number of pay-outs has increased by almost a third since 2005/6. Last year more than 3,200 injury claims were filed by NHS staff, totalling nearly £20m.

The Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh NHS Trust paid out £3,980 to a nurse who slipped on a piece of potato on a ward floor. It also awarded an employee £5,750 after he fell over when catching his trousers on a metal bracket.

A hospital worker at Sherwood Forest NHS Trust was paid £2,250 after suffering ‘tennis elbow’ from repetitive movement. The same hospital awarded nearly £900 to a staff member who cut their thumb.

Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals Trust awarded £10,000 to an employee who twisted their ankle on a step, and the same amount to another worker who suffered a cut finger.

A substantial part of the spiralling cost is being blamed on “no win, no fee” lawyers who encourage patients to make claims. It is estimated that around a third of the money paid out for clinical negligence claims ends up in lawyers’ pockets.

Tory MP Stephen Barclay said: ‘It seems surprising that some payments are being made for what appear to be relatively minor injuries.

‘This is money that would otherwise be spent on patients with medical needs.’

This story comes after news that the NHS faces paying over £15 million to patients who suffered clinical negligence whilst in hospital.

With the NHS struggling under financial pressure, investing in a private medical insurance policy could be the best way to secure your future healthcare.

Staff in the NHS are claiming millions in compensation for minor injuriesA leading newspaper has revealed that NHS staff are claiming nearly £20 million a year in compensation for minor injuries, money which is paFollow @activequote

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